It had to happen eventually...the first local Virginia Bacon Festival.

Sponsored by Smithfield and featuring dishes prepared by area chefs, the event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, on the Scope Plaza in downtown Norfolk.

The event will feature a chef cook-off, cooking demonstrations and a Bacon Eating Contest with a first-place prize of a year’s supply of bacon from Smithfield). There’ll be bacon, beverage and spirits sampling, with beverages provided by Three Olives Vodka and Starr Hill Brewery.